duel

American  

[doo-uhl, dyoo-] / ˈdu əl, ˈdyu- /

noun

1. a prearranged combat between two persons, fought with deadly weapons according to an accepted code of procedure, especially to settle a private quarrel.

2. any contest between two persons or parties.

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verb (used with or without object)

dueled, dueling, duelled, duelling

1. to fight in a duel.

duel British  

/ ˈdjuːəl /

noun

1. a prearranged combat with deadly weapons between two people following a formal procedure in the presence of seconds and traditionally fought until one party was wounded or killed, usually to settle a quarrel involving a point of honour

2. a contest or conflict between two persons or parties

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verb

1. to fight in a duel

2. to contest closely

Other Word Forms

• duelistic adjective
• dueller noun
• outduel verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of duel

1585–95; earlier duell < Medieval Latin duellum, Latin: earlier form of bellum war, probably maintained and given sense “duel” by association with Latin duo two

Example Sentences

By the time Gabriel headed the ball back across goal, Sanchez was unbalanced from his duel with Saliba and Santos, and Arsenal's two central defenders combined to finish the move.

From BBC • Mar. 8, 2026

To see why that is, watch her duet and duel with Carpenter in “The Muppet Show” revival.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

Gahr 1, El Dorado 0: A ninth-inning run ended the pitching duel.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

In a rematch of their Australian Open quarter-final last month, Svitolina repeated her success against Gauff, this time after a gruelling three-hour duel, to book a final showdown with another American, Jessica Pegula.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

He had just challenged twenty-six men, a lieutenant, and two detectives to a duel.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson

Related Words

• bout
• shootout